Today is a special Mass, the Epiphany, at which our youth will offer an elaborate processional, reenacting the events of the Nativity and the visits by the wisemen. Epiphany means to “be revealed.”
Please notice that the original Epiphany was very obscure and humble to the max. The number of people involved were very few. The shepherds are “just shepherds”. They come in the middle of the night. The wisemen are “foreigners”, who have to sneak out of the country when they leave.
This all serves to remind us of the amazing humility of our Lord, which He would draw from us by his example. St. Paul will call this the “wisdom of God”, (1Cor.) He calls it God’s foolishness that is wiser and befuddles the wisdom of worldly man.
This serves to help us believe that “Emmanuel”, God with us, is real. If by his demonstration of coming to a manger, in a stable of livestock, in an obscure town, in the middle of the night, will he not also come to us? By that I mean you personally, your home, your situation, your life, your mind and heart. Pretty amazing!
Be sure to “keep the light on!”
The Lord be with you. Fr. Sid.